Mānawatia a Matariki, Community Board catch ups, celebrations and more
Published on 19 June 2025
Whakanuia Te Paki o Matariki
Whakanuia Te Paki o Matariki can be understood as celebrating the calm of Matariki and will be celebrated tomorrow, Friday 20 June.
Earlier this week, our Council team came together to hear from Dr Korohere Ngapō and deepen our understanding of Matariki — both from a national view and through the unique perspective of Hauraki.
In Hauraki, Te Paki o Matariki refers to the seven stars of Matariki and reflects a Tainui worldview. Some iwi recognise nine stars in the Matariki cluster, while others, like those in Hauraki, follow the tradition of celebrating seven.
Matariki is a time to reflect, honour those who have passed, and plan for the year ahead. We hope you enjoy Matariki, however you may be spending it.
Matariki events in our district
Matariki Whangamatā is back this Matariki long weekend, bringing four days of kai, culture, music and hands-on workshops. Click here to see the full programme of events.
Check out what else is happening to mark Matariki around our district. From dawn gatherings to creative workshops, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Explore more Matariki events at Destination Hauraki Coromandel.
Pāuanui Kerbside Collections
Due to Friday’s Matariki public holiday, Pāuanui’s yellow week kerbside collections of recycling, glass and food waste will take place on Saturday 21 June.
Kerbside collection schedule
Community Board Catch ups
Tairua-Pāuanui Community Board - Monday 9 June
Tairua and Pāuanui Information Centres
Expressions of interest for managing the Tairua and Pāuanui Information Centres were advertised in April 2025, and the current operators of both centres submitted strong applications. The Board approved these two applications, ensuring continued operation of the information centres.
New Lease - Tairua Information and Community Services Society Incorporated
This Board recommended that Council approve a new two-year lease for the Tairua Information and Community Services Society Inc. to continue using part of the Tairua District Library at 2 Manaia Road as an information centre. An alternative location has not yet been identified, and the lease extension provides time to secure an alternative site.
Discretionary Fund Request
The Board approved a request of $966 to Pāuanui Ratepayers and Residents Association for funding assistance towards rabbit bait stations and bait.
Pāuanui Wastewater Treatment Plant Odour Control: Renovation work of the existing scrubber started on the first week of June and is expected to be completed by end of June 2025.
Whangamatā Community Board - Tuesday 10 June
Information Centre funding and operation approval
The Board approved an expression of interest for the Whangamatā Community Marae Trust to take over operation of the Information Centre at its existing location. This decision was strongly supported by the community during the public forum.
Discretionary Funding allocations
- Eastern Coromandel Community Service: Awarded $2,000 to assist with foodbank and Comfort Kai costs.
- Marketing Works:
- $17,811 granted for replacement Santas and Christmas decorations on the Port Rd streetlights.
- The remaining $406 will be retained as earnings.
Stormwater Improvement projects
Two projects have been approved for design and construction this financial year:
- Harbour View Road: Upgrade of the swale drain and outfall structure.
- Hetherington Road: Connection of the swale network and upgrade of the outfall structure.
The Hetherington Road work scope will now include the entire network from Port Road to the outfall.
Tender evaluation and award is expected soon and construction is expected start shortly after and finish by around September 2025.
Wastewater Upgrade – Hetherington Road Rising Main
- Design Consultants: Appointed to develop a solution and prepare construction contract documentation by 30 June 2025.
- Next Steps: Open tender for construction scheduled for August 2025.
Thames Community Board - Wednesday 11 June
Tōtara Valley development
Geotechnical investigations are due to begin in late July on the Tōtara Valley services extension project to enable the potential development of between 300-400 new homes in Thames.
Construction of Stage 2 of the project is scheduled to begin in October 2026 but planning and investigations are taking place now. In Stage 2, Totara Valley Road will be widened to a carriageway width of 9.5m from Ngāti Maru Highway to just beyond Sawmill Road, along with the construction of a 2.5m-wide shared path.
Water, wastewater and stormwater services will also be upgraded along this section to enable residential housing development.
The faith-based organisation Coming Home | Te Hokinga Mai te Kainga informed the Board that it is seeking $12,000 to set up the district’s only residential healing and recovery centre for people who’ve experienced trauma. Its residents would include people suffering with addiction, mental health issues, poverty or sleeping rough. Interested donors can contact Sonja Merz cominghome.thames@gmail.com
Thames Museum Te Whare Taonga o te Kauaeranga is looking to extend its building so it has increased space for textile storage that can be accessed in all weather and more workspace. Currently its textiles room is full to capacity and its garment collection, some of which are 100 years old, can only be taken out in fine weather because they need to move via the outside to the main building. The museum is seeking $9,200 for a professional fundraiser to secure the funds.
Coromandel-Colville Community Board - Tuesday 17 June
At its meeting this week, the Board discussed and approved an Expression of Interest for the Coromandel Information Centre from Thrive Coromandel Trust, and approved $49,900 from its discretionary funds as follows:
- St Paul's Church Building Repairs – $4,000
- Coromandel Community Library Operational Costs $15,000
- Spirit of Coromandel Trust for a Mower – $19,000
- Coromandel Area School Cultural Exchange – $5,000
- Open Studios Coromandel Arts Tour – $1,200
- Upper Coromandel Forest & Bird Plant/Pest Eradication – $5,000
- Hauraki House Playground Opening/Blessing – $350
- National Volunteer Week Coromandel Day – $350
The Board’s next meeting will be on 29 July at 9am, at 355 Kapanga Rd, Coromandel Town.
Mercury Bay Community Board - Wednesday 18 June
At its meeting this week, the Board discussed and approved a resolution to recommend to Council to begin the process of reclassifying Moewai Park Reserve as a Local Purpose Reserve.
The move means the reserve will remain a reserve but the existing parameters that determine the use of the land could be opened up to allow for broader use.
The decision was triggered by Ngā Tūmanako Whitianga Charitable Trust signalling its interest in the area as a potential location for a community marae.
Board members discussed that reclassification was a ‘stage one’ of a process. It did not mean there was any agreement or disagreement with the trust’s vision. Any reclassification would be subject to a community consultation.
Work continues on the Whitianga Recycling and Refuse Transfer Station which is on track for completion by June 2026. The Project began on 28 April 2025 and is about to enter the construction phase.
Physical works for Stage 1 of the Sherriff Block Project have been completed and Council staff are working to prepare the site for future events at 90 Moewai Road.
The Board heard concerns raised at Public Forum about a proposed development on Cemetery Road at Kūaotunu. The concerns raised will be passed on to senior planners, including historical photos of flooding events. The Board has requested to be kept informed about the development process.
During Public Forum, a Tapu-Coroglen representative shared with the Board photos and video of large rocks, many potholes, and a very slippery surface on the Tapu-Coroglen Road, raising concerns about its safety. This information will be passed on to staff to investigate and the Board has requested information on the maintenance schedule for this road.
The Board noted comments from a previous Public Forum presentation where it was asked to help get more trees planted in central Whitianga to help provide shade, particularly in summer. The Board heard that Council staff are working with the person who raised the matter and the Board has requested regular updates on how this is progressing.
Volunteer Week Celebrations
This week, we celebrated National Volunteers Week with events in Coromandel-Colville, Mercury Bay and Thames. Last week, we held events in Tairua-Pāuanui and Whangamatā. Over 200 volunteers took part across the district.
In Thames, the theme was The ripple effect of volunteering in inspiring societal change. Guest speaker Andrew Connaughton shared insights on the broader impact of volunteering.
In Coromandel-Colville, speakers included Josie Katene (General Manager, CILT) and Stephanie Parkyn, a dedicated volunteer with MEG (the Moehau Environment Group).
In Mercury Bay, Tony Marsters, Manager of the Whitianga Community Services Trust, gave the keynote address and introduced new volunteer group Toes in the Water Whitianga.
A heartfelt thank you to all our volunteers, your generosity, commitment and community spirit make a real difference every day.
Thames Coastguard to the rescue
Every year Thames Coastguard volunteers clock up thousands of hours training and patrolling to keep us safe on the water. Launching off the new Kōpū Recreational Boat Ramp saves the crew vital time on search and rescue missions and means a much more comfortable start to what can be a long and challenging time at sea.
Find out more about their work and how we can help support them through sponsoring crew members on the Big Swim.
Rubbish bin audit
Good news. We’re getting better at making sure organic matter and recyclables don’t end up in landfill.
In April this year Council completed an audit of kerbside rubbish bins. Since the previous audit in 2021, food waste and green waste going into our rubbish has almost halved. We’ve also decreased the amount of general recyclable materials going into our rubbish bins.
This is a great improvement and our district should be proud. Let’s continue this good work together to stop recyclables going into our kerbside rubbish.
Transfer Station hours
Over the next two weeks, four of our Refuse and Recycling Transfer Stations will be open for reduced hours on two days, so that their weighbridges can be serviced and then calibrated. The changed hours are:
Apart from these changes, our Refuse and Recycling Transfer Stations will be open from 8.30am-4.30pm seven days a week, including Matariki public holiday and weekend.
Find out more
Mautohe Cathedral Cove Survey
The Department of Conservation (DOC) held an open day on 14 June 2025 to share updates on the Cathedral Cove Sustainability Project and is now running a survey to gather community feedback on long-term access, management, and visitor experience at Mautohe Cathedral Cove.
The survey closes Friday 11 July. If you want to share your thoughts on long-term access, management, and visitor experience at Mautohe Cathedral Cove, please fill out the survey at the link below.
You can also view the info boards from the 14 June drop-in session below.
Take the survey here View the storyboards
Project updates and closures
Toilet upgrade at Cory Wright Domain, Tairua
Construction work to upgrade the public toilet facilities at Cory Wright Domain in Tairua will begin on Thursday 26 June. The new toilets will replace the existing facilities, which are no longer fit for purpose.
While construction is underway, the male toilets will remain open for public use. However, the ladies' toilets will be closed, and part of the carpark will be fenced off for safety. The nearest alternative public toilets are located at Pepe Reserve.
We kindly ask everyone to respect the contractors and their equipment while work is in progress.
Thank you for your patience as we work to improve this community space.
Toilet upgrade at Port Road, Whangamatā
Construction work to upgrade the public toilets on Port Road in Whangamatā will begin on Tuesday 24 June. The new toilets will replace outdated facilities that are no longer fit for purpose.
While the work is underway, portaloos will be available behind the Information Centre, next to the baby changing room. The nearest alternative permanent facilities are at the end of Hunt Road. The construction area will be fenced off for safety.
We ask everyone to please respect the contractors and their equipment while the upgrade is carried out.
Thank you for your patience as we improve these facilities for the community.
Thornton Bay slip
Work on the Thornton Bay slip stabilisation around Adams Road is due to be completed by the end of July. Delays have been caused by having to return sub-standard steel piping, slower drilling due to more solid ground than indicated by geotechnical investigation, and long pauses caused by having to pack up and reassemble equipment to allow the road to be open for 10 minutes every hour. After consulting with the community, a new traffic management system is now in place, where work takes place in larger blocks of time in the morning after start-of-the-day traffic and after lunch before end-of-work traffic.
Thames Centennial pool closure
The pool will be closed all day on Friday 20 June for Matariki and on Sunday 22 June for a private function, reopening as normal on Monday 23 June.
Williamson Park Planting
Over 2,000 native grasses, sedges and flaxes were planted last week along the banks of the Williamson Park basin to help stabilise the area and create valuable habitat. A further 3,000 natives will soon be planted within the basin itself to help filter stormwater runoff. These hardy plants have been selected for their ability to thrive in both wet and dry conditions. The planting day was a successful collaboration between Coastcare and our Council, with fantastic support from 35 senior students from Ōpoutere School, Craft Haus staff and members of the public. To find out more about communities caring for our Coast go to tcdc.govt.nz/dunes.
Red-gister now!
You’ve got until 31 July to register your dog for the upcoming year.
Avoid the queue, renew your registration online via our Thames-Coromandel District Council website or pop into one of our Council offices.
Just a reminder—unless you’re in a designated dog exercise area, your dog must be on a lead in public.
Renew your registration here
Bring in a donation to Thames Cenntenial Pool
Kōpū Boat Ramp free day passes
This holiday weekend’s a great time to try out Kōpū Recreational Boat Ramp for free. Pick up a day pass from Early Bird Bait & Tackle, Hunting and Fishing Thames or Thames Council Office. Hurry as the offer ends on 30 June.
Adoptable dogs of the week
We have 3 dogs available for adoption this week. If you’ve been thinking about adding a furry friend to your life, now’s your chance to make a difference for one (or maybe even two) of these lovable dogs.
They don’t need to be adopted as a group.
